Jacob's Ladder

Ah, another John Jacob related post (for the other ones, check here and here). I just can't help it. Jacob is continually making it difficult for me to do anything other than oppose him. Now he's decided to bash President Bush because Bush endorses Chris Cannon. I'm surprised he hasn't also stepped up and beat on Orrin Hatch, Bob Bennett, John Boehner, Rob Bishop, and the rest of the Republican establishment that supports Cannon. After all, they held a fundraising dinner for Cannon and not Jacob.
This isn't the best way to curry favor nor to gain influence in Washington. What Utah needs in a Congressman isn't an idiot who shoots his mouth off in an attempt to cast himself as an outsider. A Senator can play that game because every state is equal there. In the House, where Utah only has 3 seats, we need Congressmen who will actually work with others instead of playing the outsider card. I understand the need to stand out and differentiate yourself, I do. However, by tossing aside connections with your own party, you risk becoming Jim Jefford - an "independent" who is stuck in no-man's land and isn't a factor. As much as Washington needs fixing up, you can't go in with a billy club and start whacking people over the head. That's the easiest way to get them to not change anything. You need to work with people, win them over to your side, and change them from that perspective. For example, take Ted Kennedy and Orrin Hatch. I know a lot of people here in Utah bristle at the mere mention of the Kennedy name, but Hatch became good friends with him, and while he isn't exactly Barry Goldwater, he has changed. He's certainly a much better human being than he was in the past, and isn't that the most important thing? Everybody has different beliefs, but that doesn't make them evil. When John Jacob learns that that is the case and that you can't get things done, nor can you fulfil your "Contract with Utah" (if you actually believe he'll step down after his first term if he doesn't meet the requirements, I have some lakefront property in Delta to sell you) without playing nice and working with the party leadership to get things done. Outsiders may be loud, but ultimately they're the most ineffective people in Congress.